Portugal’s 2024 UEFA European Championship ended in the quarter-finals after a penalty shootout defeat to France.
Clear chances were few and far between in Hamburg until the pace picked up in the second half. Rúben Dias managed to deflect a shot from Randal Kolo Muani in the 66th minute.
Eduardo Camavinga and Ousmane Dembélé came close to scoring for Les Bleus before Roberto Martínez brought on Francisco Conceição. The latter set up Cristiano Ronaldo in extra time but the forward failed to get the shot on target.
Neither team managed to find the back of the net in 120 minutes of play, with the match decided on penalties.
João Félix was the unlucky one and hit the post, France took the penalty perfectly, which saw the Seleção sent off prematurely.
It was another brutal end to an international tournament, especially for Pepe who has surely hung up his boots for the Seleção.
Slow start
France pressed hard in the opening minutes, but Portugal eventually won the ball back but were unable to trouble Mike Maignan. The first chance came in the 16th minute, when Bruno Fernandes’ shot was deflected wide of the target.
A mistake by João Palhinha opened the scoring for Les Bleus, thanks to a dangerous shot from Theo Hernández on Diogo Costa. The goalkeeper was called into action again, punching away a deflected cross from Kylian Mbappé.
The affair continued in Hamburg, with Randal Kolo Muani fouling Vitinha, which presented Cristiano Ronaldo with a free-kick. The latter declined the invitation, Bruno Fernandes stepped forward and narrowly missed the top corner.
The pace increases
The intensity increased in the second half, with both teams showing more attacking intent, with Mbappe playing a 1-2 with N’Golo Kanté before shooting straight at Costa.
Portugal enjoyed a brief spell of pressure when Joao Cancelo played Fernandes who forced Maignan into a save. The two players combined seconds later, Fernandes providing the assist for Cancelo who fired wide.
The French goalkeeper was well and truly in the action, stopping Vitinha’s attempt and getting up to push Ronaldo away from a tight angle.
The momentum continued to swing when Kolo Muani made a long run forward and found himself behind the Portuguese defence, with Rúben Dias doing well to track back and deflect his effort wide.
Didier Deschamps was the first coach to act, the moment coming in the 67th minute when Antoine Griezmann made way for Ousmane Dembélé. France remained in the lead with Mbappe’s shot blocked by Nuno Mendes, Eduardo Camavinga going close and Dembélé missing the top corner.
Roberto Martínez went to his bench in the 74th minute when he introduced Nélson Semedo and Francisco Conceição in place of João Cancelo and Bruno Fernandes. João Palhinha was booked for a challenge on Mbappé.
Conceição was quick to get involved, the youngster won a duel with Theo Hernández and launched an attack. He continued his run and was dragged down by William Saliba, Ronaldo stepped forward and sent the free-kick into the wall.
The chances dried up when Deschamps brought on Marcus Thuram for Kolo Muani, Martínez replaced Palhinha and brought on Rúben Neves. The last chance of regulation time fell to Mbappé, a timid shot that served as a training pass for Costa.
Extra time and penalty shootouts
The chance Ronaldo had been waiting for finally arrived in added time, Conceição heading towards the goal line and finding the forward who was unable to score cleanly.
Pepe’s impressive performance continued when he blocked Mbappe’s effort, with both teams lacking composure in front of goal and fatigue setting in.
Deschamps made a surprising change at half-time of extra time: Bradley Barcola replaced Mbappé, while Martínez brought on João Félix for Leão. Félix immediately took Conceição’s cross and slotted into the side netting.
France responded again when Dembele cut inside and fired over the bar, Barcola then drilled in and missed from a tight angle.
Martínez brought on Matheus Nunes for Vitinha in the 119th minute but there was still time for another chance. Nuno Mendes did well to clear his team, the defender collecting the ball from Bernardo Silva but failing to generate enough power to trouble Maignan.
Penalties were needed to decide a semi-finalist, but Diogo Costa was unable to produce another heroic performance in the penalty shootout. João Félix hit the post, and France converted all five penalties, bringing Portugal’s tournament to a premature end.
Close but no cigar
The cruelty of international football was on full display once again at the Volksparkstadion, with France in celebration mode as their tournament continues and Portugal looking to secure their first flight home.
A close game was expected and that is exactly what happened, with neither team deserving of victory or defeat. Small margins decide many games and that is exactly what happened in Hamburg.
Pepe had a huge game in what will probably be his last appearance for the Seleção, his 141st cap. He made important duels to push back Kolo Muani, Thuram and blocked an attempt by Mbappé in extra time.
The 41-year-old was in tears after the final whistle, being consoled by Ronaldo in what will surely be a lasting image to complete the album of his international career.
Nuno Mendes made virtually no mistakes throughout the evening and stormed to the finish line in a performance reminiscent of his one against the Czech Republic.
Vitinha continued to impress, his inclusion in Portugal’s starting team being one of the success stories of the campaign. The other was Francisco Conceição, the youngster who scored the winner against the Czech Republic and made a big splash as a substitute against France.
Investigations will surely begin to try to understand and explain how Portugal failed at Euro 2024. In the end, it was simply bad luck in the penalty shootout lottery.
By Matthew Marshall at Volksparkstadion
Composition
Portugal (4-3-3): Diogo Costa – Joao Cancelo (Nélson Semedo 74′), Pepe, Rúben Dias, Nuno Mendes – Bruno Fernandes (Francisco Conceição 74′), João Palhinha (Rúben Neves 90+1′), Vitinha (Matheus Nunes 119′) – Rafael Leão (João Félix 106′), Cristiano Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva
Unused substitutes: Rui Patricia, José Sa, António Silva, Gonçalo Inácio, Danilo Pereira, Diogo Dalot, João Neves, Pedro Neto, Diogo Jota, Gonçalo Ramos
Coach: Roberto Martinez
France (4-3-1-2): Mike Maignan – Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, Theo Hernandez – N’Golo Kante, Aurelien Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga (Youssouf Fofana 91′) – Antoine Griezmann (Ousmane Dembélé 67′) – Randal Kolo Muani (Marcus Thuram 86′) , Kylian Mbappé (Bradley Barcola 106′)
Unused substitutes: Brice Samba, Alphonse Areola, Ibrahima Konate, Benjamin Pavard, Jonathan Clauss, Ferland Mendy, Warren Zaire-Emery, Kingsley Coman, Olivier Giroud
Suspended: Adrien Rabiot
Coach: Didier Deschamps